On politics in the Golden State

Jerry Brown - Meg Whitman debate: Proposition 13

October 12, 2010 | 6:48
pm

The candidates were asked about their position on Proposition 13, which Tom Brokaw called "a sacred cow" and whether they were willing to reform it.

"Proposition 13 is absolutely essential to the future of California and I want to defend Proposition 13," Meg Whitman said. "The really only sustainable way to create more tax revenues is to create more jobs."

Whitman said she would cut taxes and streamline regulations to create more tax revenue for the state.

Brown, who was governor when Proposition 13 was passed, also said he was in no hurry to change the law.

"There's no sacred cows over the long term. We have to look at things," Brown said. But he said he would abide by the existing law. "A lot of the problem of 13," Brown said, is that "the state took over more and more power. ... I would do my utmost to return authority and decision-making to the locals."